Hello all. I came across this wonderful site after trying to find out what's going on with Bob (bald) my resident robin. I don't know if it's a Bob or Bobette but he/she has been coming to my garden for over a year. Yesterday and today he seems almost distressed. He is making such a racket, pretty much all day. Back and forth, almost frantic. He is coming down and taking the food I've put out but I am worried he may have lost his mate. Or could it be that there are babies and he's protecting them?
Last night when I went to take the food indoors, he almost dive bombed me! There's no way he couldn't have seen me. I left the food out for another half hour and he continued to go back and forth to it. I always take the food in at night because of the rats.
They are not a problem during the day because my dogs are in and out. The birds are not bothered by my dogs. I've had sparrows land on them before when they are sleeping!
Sounds like he has young - do you also have water out? daily fresh water is just as important especially with the strange warm spring
Cin J
Thank you for your reply. Yes, there is fresh water every day in a shallow bowl. There is also a bird bath and the sparrows and blackbirds like to bathe and drink from the pond waterfall.
I was wondering if there were young or if he was calling for his mate. He's been very busy the last couple of days. He's out there now making a racket. It doesn't bother me. I love seeing them and he's always nearby when I'm gardening. Last year we had four young come into the garden. It's just so lovely to see
I am suspecting an active nest, and the dogs (or humans) are near the nest. Birds react differently and are less tolerant when young are about. Frantic calling/behaviour is a clear sign to backoff.
There is no nest in my garden. I don't know where the nest could be. Some of my neighbours a few doors away have conifers/bushes so it could be there but not in my garden or my direct neighbours. He gets up on my neighbours roof making himself known then comes down to feed in my garden and flies off. He comes back and forth feeding so I'm wondering if he is taking food to his mate sat on eggs. When he is in my garden he doesn't make all that noise.
I wonder if the other day he hadn't finished dining and didn't want me to take the food away quite yet.
I didn’t say there was a nest in your garden.
Wherever the robin is alarm calling/frantic, there is a nest, or young bird out of a nest.
I know you didn't. I just don't know where the nest could be. When he is in my garden he's not making all that noise. It's when he is on the roof or arial and also when he is in a tree out the front.
I've been replacing my old picket fence so have really noticed the back and forth and the noise he has been making. I was just concerned he'd lost his mate.
I'm really looking forward to seeing their young when they fly the nest